Tuesday, 30 December 2008

Eating is much but accommodating is littleAn nhieu, o mayEating as in the North; clothing as in the SouthAn Bac, mac namYou eat slowly, that is good for stomach; you plough deeply, that is good for fieldsAn ky no lau, cay sau tot luaWhen having a party, go first; when walking in the water, go afterAn co di truoc, loi nuoc theo sau( = He that comes first to the hill may sit where he will = the early bird catches the worm)One worm may damage the whole cooking soupCon sau bo dau noi canhEating and sitting without laborAn khong ngoi roi(= to be at the loose end)Eeating nothing but saying yesAn khong noi co( = to slander)It depends on how much of rice you eat the sauceLieu com gap mam( = cut your coat according to your cloth according to your means)Try to seize the bowl of rice but forget the whole table of foodTham bat bo mamOne piece of food while hungry equals a big box of food while fullMot mieng khi doi bang mot goi khi noThe husband eats hamburger; the wife eats spring rollOng an cha ba an nemThe man show a pig leg, the woman show a bottle of wineOng gio chan gio; ba tho chai ruou [Or: Ong dua chan gio, ba tho chai ruou]( = scratch my back and I shall scratch yours)Eats as strongly as elephantAn khoe nhu voiEat as small as a catAn nhu meoLooks as monkey eats gingerNhu khi an gungThe good leaves protect the worn-out leavesLa lanh dum la rachAll chili is hot; all women are jealousOt nao ma ot chang cay, gai nao ma gai chang hay ghen chongGood wine must drink together with good friendRuou ngon phai co ban hienWe fence (or protect) the tree that gives us fruitsAn cay nao, rao cay ayWhen eating chew well, think before speakingAn co nhai, noi co nghiWhen eating choose the place, when playing choose your friendsAn chon noi, choi chon ba.n(= be fastidious)Eat the plum (given as a gift) but give back a peachAn man tra dao(= Return gift to gift)It's better to eat salty food and speak the truth than to eat vegetarian andtell liesAn man noi ngay hon an chay noi doi(= Better to eat meat and speak truth than to fast and tell lies)When you eat, it's vegetable, when you are sick, it's medicineCom thi rau, dau thi thuocPay first and then get what you have paid forTien trao chao mucThe student tried to steal the cooking fishThe teacher found out. The student says Oh forgive meI just opened the fish container.If you were a bit later, I would have taken the whole fish container.Hoc tro an vung ca khoThay do bat duoc, oi a con chuaThua thay co moi mo vungThay cham ti nua con bung ca noiWhen you eat, check the pots and pans; When you sit, check the direction.An trong noi, ngoi trong huong(Discreetly check the kitchen so that you don't put your foot in your mouth like asking for another serving when there is barely enough food for all guests, bragging about your preference of seafood when the host is about to serve chicken, etc. Check the direction when you sit -- for example facing South should be reserved for the guest of honor, avoid turning your back to the host's ancestral altar, turning your back to the guest of honor or the host, sitting at better seat than your own elders, sitting at the same level as people of higher ranks in society or in the family, etc.) A - - A - Ac gia, ac bao As the call, so the echo Ai lam nay chiu Who breaks, pays An chac mac ben Comfort is better than pride An co nhai, noi co nghi Think today and speak tomorrow An may doi xoi gac Beggars can't be choosers An mieng tra mieng Tit for tat An den oan tra An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth